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Do you think it's a good idea for someone who is not particularly good at DIY? My front garden is around 16m2 and two people have quoted me around £1,000. Cost of the top of the range grass should cost me no more than £450 or so.

I am a bit of a perfectionist and just wanted to know is it hard to mess it up.

I laid a slightly bigger area in my back garden last bank hol. I lifted the old turf and took to the tip (four car loads). I put down two tonne of stone and a tonne of sand bringing the level up to match that of the patio, using a hired whacker-plate to get it level and firm. I installed treated wooden battens around the edge which provided a level edge to work to, and then stapled the fake grass to this. Afterwards I've brushed in six or seven bags of kiln sand on top. All in the job came to about £500 for me (the turf cost me £320 on a 20% off ebay day). Assuming they're offering to do the same, £500 for the labour on top doesn't sound too bad.

* my posts are made in good faith and only represent my own opinion, experience or understanding of a situation.

I laid a slightly bigger area in my back garden last bank hol. I lifted the old turf and took to the tip (four car loads). I put down two tonne of stone and a tonne of sand bringing the level up to match that of the patio, using a hired whacker-plate to get it level and firm. I installed treated wooden battens around the edge which provided a level edge to work to, and then stapled the fake grass to this. Afterwards I've brushed in six or seven bags of kiln sand on top. All in the job came to about £500 for me (the turf cost me £320 on a 20% off ebay day). Assuming they're offering to do the same, £500 for the labour on top doesn't sound too bad.

I used a lawn edger to cut it into chunks, but yes lifted with a spade and used rubble sacks to take to the tip. The area wasn't really big enough to warrant a machine to do it, and as I wasn't keeping it to relay (it was at the end of its life anyway) it didn't need to be a neat job.

Oh I forgot to mention that I also put weed membrane down beneath the stone and then again on top of the sand.

* my posts are made in good faith and only represent my own opinion, experience or understanding of a situation.

I laid a slightly bigger area in my back garden last bank hol. I lifted the old turf and took to the tip (four car loads). I put down two tonne of stone and a tonne of sand bringing the level up to match that of the patio, using a hired whacker-plate to get it level and firm. I installed treated wooden battens around the edge which provided a level edge to work to, and then stapled the fake grass to this. Afterwards I've brushed in six or seven bags of kiln sand on top. All in the job came to about £500 for me (the turf cost me £320 on a 20% off ebay day). Assuming they're offering to do the same, £500 for the labour on top doesn't sound too bad.

We had artificial grass installed last year and the installers spread sand on it.

Sand stabilises the grass and prolongs its useful life.

“

The extra weight means that the grass stays in place and doesn't need to be fixed in any other way. The sand provides stability and protects the turf. As a result, no wrinkles or folds develop through use. The sand also surrounds the long blades of artificial grass and ensures that they remain erect.

A friend done it a few years ago after watching a few videos on YouTube for tips. He did say he laid too much sand for the base as he has a large dog and when its running around and slamming on its brakes it has caused some slight rippling to the top layer of grass. Cant remember how much sand he said he put down though

Done it myself in our back garden around a semi circle wooden patio. I am terrible at DIY but managed this and it looked good. I was laying it onto slabs though so land was already flat. I used some double sided tape and a stanley blade it was a quick job.

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